Domestic games can unlock potential

It was perhaps no coincidence that the two Bangladesh Under-19 players with experience of top-flight domestic cricket, Rishad Ahmed (R) and Shoriful Islam, performed on a higher plane during the ongoing Under-19 Asia Cup. PHOTO: STAR FILE

With an aim to be prepared for the next ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2020, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) banked on a fresh batch of cricketers in the Under-19 Asia Cup at home in a campaign that ended in a nerve-wracking two-run defeat against India in the semifinal on Thursday.

The lack of experience of playing competitive cricket was evident and despite having plenty of talent, the young cricketers were unable to hold their nerves in a crunch situation.

With the exceptions of leg-spinner Rishad Ahmed and pacer Shoriful Islam, a majority of the remaining members of the side have hardly played any competitive domestic leagues, which told in the difference between those two and the rest.

Rishad got the exposure when he was included in the Bangladesh A team during the four-day games against Sri Lanka A this year. He was previously named in the High Performance squad, which helped him grow in confidence as he is already rated as the next big thing.

Left-arm seamer Shoriful announced himself at the age of 16 when he made his first-class debut last year for Rajshahi Division. The six-feet-three-inch tall bowler gained more experience playing for North Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League.

The 17-year-old also gained experience of playing high-pressure cricket during this year's Dhaka Premier League, picking up 17 wickets in eight games for Prime Bank Cricket Club.

Both Rishad and Shoriful tapped into their experience and finished as the highest wicket-takers for Bangladesh in the Asia Cup where they bagged eight wickets each in four games.

There has often been a complaint regarding Bangladesh cricket that national players truly start learning the game only after making it to the highest level, which makes it important for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to groom youngsters in the domestic circuit.

Age-level selector Sazzad Ahmed said that the board is planning to ensure that all members of the current under-19 squad will play the upcoming First Division league.

"We have already planned for all members of the U-19 squad, not just the 15-member team, to play in the upcoming first division league. Obviously playing in club cricket will help them absorb the pressure of competitive cricket, so we are making sure that they prepare themselves accordingly. If you have noticed the difference between Rishad, Shoriful and the others it's because of their experience playing domestic cricket," Sazzad told The Daily Star yesterday.

Although the youths shone bright in the bowling department, it is the batting that has appeared to be one of their major weaknesses as the youths were unable to post over 200 runs in any of the four games they played during the Asia Cup.

With the next World Cup in South Africa it will be even more challenging for the likes of Towhid Hridoy, Prantik Nowrose, Shamim Hossain and others to cope with the seam-friendly conditions.

Sazzad however was confident about the quality of the batsmen and said: "They have just played their first major tournament and I am hopeful that the batting department will only get better in the coming days. We are not that concerned about it."